One of my fears as a dad and someday to be highly paid religious professional is that what I say will not match up with what I do. What will my kids say, when asked, about my personal faith? Will they say, "Daddy works at the church", or will they say, "Daddy loves Jesus?" Notice that they are not the same thing. I am reading a book for class right now that speaks about integrity in life and how as ministers of the Word, our lives are under a higher level of scrutiny. What we say and challenge others to do, we've got to be doing ourselves as evidenced by the fruit in our behaviors and visible lives. What better barometer than what they see at home? When dad gives a message about living frugally, not spending what we don't have to, cutting out the extras, do they see it? When dad does a devotion about loving and obeying God, and that shows our love for Him, do they see him doing the stuff that God commands? Do my words match up with my life?
This is NOT just for the HPRP's...it is for all parents. What they see you doing, hear you saying, connects directly to what they believe to be true about Jesus and living a life of faith. Directly. My prayer for all of us is that we live what we say we believe and take this idea of being held to a higher standard to heart. How will you respond when pushed? When things don't go well? When an answer you get from God, or hear at church, doesn't correspond with your agenda? May we be a people so enamored with Jesus that our lives look like He wants them to, and that they breathe life into those around us.